You can buy the regular cake mats at most craft stores that sell cricut products - no need to purchase online. I wouldn't recommend using a chemical solvent on something you are going to prepare food products on.

Just got my cricut cake today in the mail and had to try it out (with a little help from my 7 and 9 year olds) and I already cut the mat and fondant. Finally got it to work fine on low ... with no shortening ... yeah! Do you think I will be ok using a mat that has been cut into - or do I need to now buy a new one?